4/15 – Rob Martin’s “Thunderstorms Possible This Weekend” Updated Friday Night Forecast

We’re looking good tonight with lows remaining mild in the upper 60s.  A few severe storms with 1”-2” hail popped up to our north near Hattiesburg and Columbia Friday afternoon, and there is some concern that those atmospheric conditions could drift south this holiday weekend. Moisture increasing over the weekend will bring an increasingly-unstable environment with the threat showers and thunderstorms. The threat of severe storms will be low Saturday with most of the activity staying just north, but there’s a slight risk here on Easter Sunday as the pattern becomes a bit more favorable over our area.

Tomorrow, a fast moving disturbance will slide into the region, and this feature will produce sufficient upper level support for t-storm activity. Sunday will not be entirely dissimilar to Saturday, but the upper level pattern will be slightly more favorable for storms here. Long story short, Saturday and Easter Sunday will bring scattered showers and t-storms to the area with strong gusty winds and hail possible. Mornings will generally be OK, with the activity flaring up late-afternoons and evenings.

On Monday morning, an upper level low-pressure will quickly move east across the Great Lakes. A cold front associated with this feature will be passing through if not already into the northern Gulf of Mexico. In fact, most of the activity will be gone before daybreak Monday.

Surface high-pressure builds in behind the front will bring in drier and somewhat cooler air. Highs Monday and Tuesday should get knocked down a good 5-8 degrees from Easter Sunday’s solid 80s.